Digital Commons Network^™

Transcriptomics Of Temporal- Versus Substrate-Specific Wood Decay In The Brown-Rot Fungus Fibroporia Radiculosa, Byoungnam Min, Steven Ahrendt, Anna Lipzen, Cristina E. Toapanta, Robert A. Blanchette, Dan Cullen, David Hibbett

Biology

Brown-rot fungi lack many enzymes associated with complete wood degradation, such as lignin-attacking peroxidases, and have developed alternative mechanisms for rapid wood breakdown. To identify the effects of culture conditions and wood substrates on gene expression, we grew Fibroporia radiculosa in submerged cultures containing Wiley milled wood (5 days) and solid wood wafers (30 days), using aspen, pine, and spruce as a substrate.

Synthesis And Study Of The Antimicrobial Activity Of Modified Polyvinyl Alcohol Films Incorporated With Silver Nanoparticles, Basma J. Ahmed, Maida H. Saleem, Fadhel S. Matty

Baghdad Science Journal

A new class of biologically active nanocomposites and modified polymers based on poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with some organic compounds [II, IV, V and VI] were synthesized using silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs). All compounds were synthesized using nucleophilic substitution interactions and characterized by FTIR, DSC and TGA. The biological activity of the modified polymers was evaluated against: gram (+) (staphylococcus aureus) and gram (-): (Es cherichia coli bacteria). Antimicrobial films are developed based on modified poly (vinyl alcohol) MPVA and Ag-NPs nanoparticles. The nanocomposites and modified polymers showed better antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli (Gram negative) than against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram …

From Disembodiment To Embodiment In Artificial Intelligence And Psychology - Parallels In Thinking, Sheila L. Macrine, Jennifer M.B. Fugate

Faculty and Staff Publications

This paper briefly traces how both Computer Science and Psychology grew- in tandem- to share similar notions of Embodied Cognition. It concludes an analysis of how the two fields are uniting in their work on Embodied Artificial Intelligence, and future challenges for the field.

Genome Assembly Of The Foot-Flagging Frog, Staurois Parvus: A Resource For Understanding Mechanisms Of Behavior, Mika A. Holtz, Riccardo Racicot, Doris Preininger, Adam M.M. Stuckert, Lisa A. Mangiamele

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Elaborate and skilled movements of the body have been selected in a variety of species as courtship and rivalry signals. One roadblock in studying these behaviors has been a lack of resources for understanding how they evolved at the genetic level. The Bornean rock frog (Staurois parvus) is an ideal species in which to address this issue. Males wave their hindlimbs in a "foot-flagging"display when competing for mates. The evolution of foot flagging in S. parvus and other species is accompanied by increases in the expression of the androgen receptor gene within its neuromuscular system, but it remains unclear what …

Christ As Dialogue With Culture: Reimaging The Church For Incarnational Discipleship And Ministry, Sean Sloan

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

God spoke, and Logos created. Increased polarization and divisiveness in USAmerican society and the resulting social pain and even violence inspired this project to pursue a healthier and restorative dialogue. If God’s spoken and incarnate Word originated human life and was and is the means of redeeming humans to life with God and one another, how might such a dialogical Christology impact a theology of dialogue capable of addressing brokenness in a culture? As action research, this project tested the potential for a theology of dialogue to impact perceptions as a precursor to altering behaviors through a presentation at Calvary …

Toward A Eucharistic Gathering: The Efficacy And Implications Of The Recovery Of The Great Tradition At Faith, Hope, And Charity Worship Center, Ernest J. Crocker

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

While humankind not only has to eat to survive but also enjoys eating, the church, which shares this same need to survive, has, in some cases, found itself in a forced fast. This forced fasting, often justified by 'biblical' reasons, can significantly hinder the church's spiritual formation, leaving worshippers deficient in their spiritual journey. Promoting a more balanced approach to spiritual discipline is crucial, as using Scripture to justify this fast is counter to the words of Christ, the teachings of the apostles, and the church's mind for over two millennia. It's important to note that from Pentecost to the …

Menstruation And Adolescent Girls' Daily Lives In Rural Upper Egypt, Salma Abou Hussein, Nahla G. Abdel-Tawab

Adolescents and Young People

The Population Council conducted a qualitative study to understand the menstruation-related attitudes, practices, and perceptions that shape adolescent girls’ daily routines in rural upper Egypt communities, specifically Assiut and Sohag. The study relied on in-depth interviews with unmarried adolescent girls aged 13–16; focus group discussions with girls aged 13–16, mothers, fathers, and male siblings of adolescent girls; and key informant interviews with schoolteachers, doctors/nurses, pharmacists, and community leaders. “Period poverty” (lack of access to, or inability to afford period supplies) can be detected among adolescent girls in rural Assiut and Sohag. Lack of information and emotional and practical support before …

Dean's Report- Fall 2023, Marina K. Holz

GSBMS Dean’s Report

No abstract provided.

Belowground Growth Strategies Of Native And Invasive Rhizomatous Perennial Grasses In Response To Precipitation Variability, Clipping, And Competition, Surendra Bam, Jacqueline P. Ott, Jack Butler, Lan Xu

Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications

Invasive clonal species may exhibit different growth strategies than their native clonal competitors. In this study, we examined the spatial distribution of tiller outgrowth and the bud bank by comparing the investment in phalanx versus guerilla growth of a native and invasive perennial grass in North America. We also examined the efect of altered precipitation frequency, clipping, and competition on their clonal growth strategies. Investment in phalanx and guerilla growth was assessed by examining live propagule and tiller production from the plant crown versus its rhizomes. Although invasive Bromus inermis and native Pascopyrum smithii exhibited similar clonal growth strategies as …

Une Com Research And Scholarship Fall Forum October 2023, Une Com Research & Scholarship

Osteopathic Student Research Symposia

Program including abstracts from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine’s 2023 Research and Scholarship Fall Forum.

Supplemental content: List of award winners.

Pollinators Of Gonzaga University, Sophie O'Shei, Gary Chang

Biology Student Scholarship

This data is from a public science project conducted by Sophie O'Shei (Gonzaga '24) investigating pollinator diversity in and around Gonzaga's campus. Photos of plants and pollinators were submitted using iNaturalist, an online platform and app that allows users to upload photos of animals, plants, insects, etc. and identifies their species using AI. It also tracks where photos were taken. Users were then able to go through uploaded images and suggest what species they identify in the photo, which can confirm or correct the AI's identification.

The project started during Earth Week 2023, giving students, staff, and other members …

Alfred Russel Wallace Notes 27. When Wallace Broke With Darwin., Charles H. Smith

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

The year 1866 was the first year Alfred Russel Wallace showed definite signs of breaking with Darwin over the limits of natural selection. Attention is drawn to a July 1866 exchange of letters between the two, and how this foreshadowed what followed.

Biology (Nucleo)Tidings- Fall 2023, Biology Department Staff

Biology (Nucleo)tidings

News from the Biology Department at Northeastern Illinois University

Internalizing Symptoms In Autistic Young Adults: Comparing The Cognitive And Physiological Components Of Emotion Regulation, Sarah Lehman

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Autistic people experience co-occurring mental illness at a substantially greater rate compared to their neurotypical counterparts. Of these comorbid psychopathologies, internalizing disorders (anxiety and depression) are among the most prevalent. Emotion dysregulation has been identified as a contributing factor to this phenomenon and potential treatment target. The current study employed cognitive (e.g., use of suppression and use of cognitive reappraisal) and physiological (e.g., respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and heart period) measures to more holistically capture the multifaceted construct of emotion regulation compared to prior research. In a sample of autistic young adults (N = 63) ages 17-29 (M = 20.14), …

Effects Of Thermocycling And Hydrolytic Aging On The Flexural Strength Of Additively Manufactured Restorative Materials, Steven Mustafa Abu Al Tamn

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Introduction: Additive manufacturing is being integrated into various aspects of clinical prosthodontics due to its potential for use in various indications and the promise of improved clinical efficiency and properties.Objective: The purpose of this in-vitro study was to evaluate the flexural strength of two 3D-printed resin composites in relation to a conventionally fabricated resin composite after being subjected to two different artificial aging methods: thermocycling and distilled water storage. Material and methods: A total of 220 samples were fabricated (N=220); 72 samples were fabricated from Integrity composite (Dentsply Sirona) and 148 samples were fabricated from two 3D-printed composite materials MFH …

Nanomechanical Membrane-Based Temperature Sensor With Sub-Nanowatt Resolution: Theory, Fabrication, And Measurements, Sangmin Oh

Master's Theses (2009 -)

A micro-Kelvin (∼10−6 K) resolution thermometry for resolving micro/nanoscale heat transport using a nanomechanical membrane-based device is investigated in this research. Detecting local temperatures at the micro/nanoscale requires high resolution thermometry because of the extremely low thermal transport. High resolution thermometry to resolve the smallest heat flow output can be resolved by both minimizing the thermal conductance (Gth) and achieving the highest temperature resolution (∆Tth) according to Q̇res = Gth ×∆Tres. The nanomechanical device proposed in this research is based on the membrane structure with silicon nitride (SiN) membrane. A 20 nm thick low stress SiN film is deposited on …

Comparison Of A Patient-Specific Computed Tomography Organ Dose Software With Commercial Phantom-Based Tools, Bindu P. Bhat

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Computed Tomography imaging is an important diagnostic tool but carries some risk due to radiation dose used to form the image. Currently, CT scanners report a measure of radiation dose for each scan that reflects the radiation emitted by the scanner, not the radiation dose absorbed by the patient. The radiation dose absorbed by organs, known as organ dose, is a more relevant metric that is important for risk assessment and CT protocol optimization. Tools for rapid organ-dose estimation are available but are limited to using general patient models. These publicly available tools are unable to model patient-specific anatomy and …

Neurocognitive Performance In Trichotillomania, Kathryn E. Barber

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Neuropsychological research indicates that trichotillomania (TTM), or hair pulling disorder, is associated with impaired cognitive flexibility and response inhibition. However, it is unclear how these neurocognitive deficits in TTM are related to symptom severity and what their implications are for treatment. The present study examined whether performance on tasks of cognitive flexibility and response inhibition were related to symptom severity, changed during treatment, and predicted treatment response in TTM. The current study utilized data from a randomized control trial comparing acceptance-enhanced behavior therapy (AEBT) to psychoeducation and supportive therapy (PST) in adults with TTM. Participants completed assessments at pre-treatment (n=88) …

Mother Drone, Mother Nature: The Griffon Vulture And Israel’S Military, Irus Braverman

Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Lifelines Fall 2023, Southern Adventist University

Lifelines - Biology Department Newsletter

The Fall 2023 issue of Lifelines contains articles on student research, service, and information on this summer's BIOS program.

Web-Grading-A Tool To Test Personal Grading Of Renal And Prostate Cancer, Glen Kristiansen, Matthias Schmid, Lars Egevad, Hemamali Samaratunga, Murali Varma, Kaan Inam, Hans-Jürgen Thiesen, Brett Delahunt, Yulin Dai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Only a few pathologists have the opportunity to verify their personal grading through objective assessment. This study introduces a web-based grading platform to facilitate and validate the grading of renal cell carcinoma and prostate cancer. Two representative images of two clinically annotated cohorts of 100 cases each of prostate and renal cell carcinoma were used. Each participant was asked to grade a tumor series utilizing a three tiered grading system. Finally, a Kaplan-Meier curve was drawn, and the log-rank test was used for statistical testing of the p-value. The grading of 22 participants (68%) achieved prognostic significance. Further analysis highlighted …

Co-Targeting Bcl-Xl And Bcl-2 By Protac 753b Eliminates Leukemia Cells And Enhances Efficacy Of Chemotherapy By Targeting Senescent Cells, Yannan Jia, Lina Han, Cassandra L Ramage, Zhe Wang, Connie C Weng, Lei Yang, Simona Colla, Helen Ma, Weiguo Zhang, Michael Andreeff, Naval Daver, Nitin Jain, Naveen Pemmaraju, Kapil Bhalla, Satu Mustjoki, Peiyi Zhang, Guangrong Zheng, Daohong Zhou, Qi Zhang, Marina Konopleva

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BCL-XL and BCL-2 are key anti-apoptotic proteins and validated cancer targets. 753B is a novel BCL-XL/BCL-2 proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) that targets both BCL-XL and BCL-2 to the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) E3 ligase, leading to BCLX L/BCL-2 ubiquitination and degradation selectively in cells expressing VHL. Because platelets lack VHL expression, 753B spares on-target platelet toxicity caused by the first-generation dual BCL-XL/BCL-2 inhibitor navitoclax (ABT-263). Here, we report pre-clinical single-agent activity of 753B against different leukemia subsets. 753B effectively reduced cell viability and induced dose-dependent degradation of BCL-XL and BCL-2 in a subset of hematopoietic cell lines, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) …

Short-Term Biomarker Modulation Study Of Dasatinib For Estrogen Receptor-Negative Breast Cancer Chemoprevention, Fatma Nihan Akkoc Mustafayev, Diane D Liu, Angelica M Gutierrez, John E Lewis, Nuhad K Ibrahim, Vicente Valero, Daniel J Booser, Jennifer K Litton, Kimberly Koenig, Dihua Yu, Nour Sneige, Banu K Arun

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: Risk-reducing therapy with selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulators and aromatase inhibitors reduce breast cancer risk. However, the effects are limited to ER-positive breast cancer. Therefore, new agents with improved toxicity profiles that reduce the risk in ER-negative breast cancers are urgently needed. The aim of this prospective, short-term, prevention study was to evaluate the effect of dasatinib, an inhibitor of the tyrosine kinase Src, on biomarkers in normal (but increased risk) breast tissue and serum of women at high risk for a second, contralateral primary breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women with a history of unilateral stage I, II, …

Combining Clinical And Biological Data To Predict Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis In Patients With Systemic Sclerosis Despite Immunomodulatory Therapy, Elizabeth R Volkmann, Holly Wilhalme, Shervin Assassi, Grace Hyun J Kim, Jonathan Goldin, Masataka Kuwana, Donald P Tashkin, Michael D Roth

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: Progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) is the leading cause of death in systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study aimed to develop a clinical prediction nomogram using clinical and biological data to assess risk of PPF among patients receiving treatment of SSc-related interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD).

METHODS: Patients with SSc-ILD who participated in the Scleroderma Lung Study II (SLS II) were randomized to treatment with either mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or cyclophosphamide (CYC). Clinical and biological parameters were analyzed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression, and a nomogram was created to assess the risk of PPF and validated by bootstrap resampling.

RESULTS: Among …

An Efficient Strategy For Evaluating New Non-Invasive Screening Tests For Colorectal Cancer: The Guiding Principles, Robert S Bresalier, Carlo Senore, Graeme P Young, James Allison, Robert Benamouzig, Sally Benton, Patrick M M Bossuyt, Luis Caro, Beatriz Carvalho, Han-Mo Chiu, Veerle M H Coupé, Willemijn De Klaver, Clasine Maria De Klerk, Evelien Dekker, Sunil Dolwani, Callum G Fraser, William Grady, Lydia Guittet, Samir Gupta, Stephen P Halloran, Ulrike Haug, Geir Hoff, Steven Itzkowitz, Tim Kortlever, Anastasios Koulaouzidis, Uri Ladabaum, Beatrice Lauby-Secretan, Mārcis Leja, Bernard Levin, Theodore Robert Levin, Finlay Macrae, Gerrit A Meijer, Joshua Melson, Colm O'Morain, Susan Parry, Linda Rabeneck, David F Ransohoff, Roque Sáenz, Hiroshi Saito, Silvia Sanduleanu-Dascalescu, Robert E Schoen, Kevin Selby, Harminder Singh, Robert J C Steele, Joseph J Y Sung, Erin Leigh Symonds, Sidney J Winawer, Members Of The World Endoscopy Colorectal Cancer Screening New Test Evaluation Expert Working Group

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: New screening tests for colorectal cancer (CRC) are rapidly emerging. Conducting trials with mortality reduction as the end point supporting their adoption is challenging. We re-examined the principles underlying evaluation of new non-invasive tests in view of technological developments and identification of new biomarkers.

DESIGN: A formal consensus approach involving a multidisciplinary expert panel revised eight previously established principles.

RESULTS: Twelve newly stated principles emerged. Effectiveness of a new test can be evaluated by comparison with a proven comparator non-invasive test. The faecal immunochemical test is now considered the appropriate comparator, while colonoscopy remains the diagnostic standard. For a …

Zyxin Inhibits The Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Process In Gastric Cancer By Upregulating Sirt1, Jing Lou, Sha Geng, Wei He, Song-Bai Liu, Xinghong Shi, Ying Chang, Shiyuan Han, Panting Qian, Hesham M Amin, Yao-Hua Song, Yangxin Li, Jin Zhou

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Tumor development relies on the stemness of cancer stem cells, which is regulated by environmental cues. Previous studies have shown that zyxin can inhibit the expression of genes for embryonic stem cell status. In the present study, the expression levels of zyxin protein in cancer tissues and adjacent noncancerous tissues from 73 gastric cancer patients with different clinical stages were analyzed by Western blot. We showed that the relative expression levels of zyxin in gastric cancer tissues (cancer tissues/adjacent tissues) were significantly downregulated in advanced clinical stages. Overexpression of zyxin inhibited the stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) processes in gastric …

Therapeutic Effects Of Combining Curcumin And Swimming In Osteoarthritis Using A Rat Model, Mona M Saber, Manal Moustafa Mahmoud, Hesham M Amin, Reham M Essam

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common debilitating degenerative disease of the elderly. We aimed to study the therapeutic effects of combining curcumin and swimming in monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced OA in a rat model. The rats were divided into 5 groups (n = 9). Group 1 received saline and served as a control group. Groups 2-5 were injected intra-articularly in the right knee with 100 μL MIA. One week later, groups 3 and 5 were started on daily swimming sessions that gradually increased to 20-mins per session, and for groups 4 and 5, oral curcumin was administered at a dose of 200 …

Evaluation Of The Natural History Of Disease By Combining Incident And Prevalent Cohorts: Application To The Nun Study, Daewoo Pak, Jing Ning, Richard J Kryscio, Yu Shen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The Nun study is a well-known longitudinal epidemiology study of aging and dementia that recruited elderly nuns who were not yet diagnosed with dementia (i.e., incident cohort) and who had dementia prior to entry (i.e., prevalent cohort). In such a natural history of disease study, multistate modeling of the combined data from both incident and prevalent cohorts is desirable to improve the efficiency of inference. While important, the multistate modeling approaches for the combined data have been scarcely used in practice because prevalent samples do not provide the exact date of disease onset and do not represent the target population …

Young-Onset Rectal Cancer: Unique Tumoral Microbiome And Correlation With Response To Neoadjuvant Therapy, Michael G White, Ashish Damania, Jumanah Alshenaifi, Pranoti Sahasrabhojane, Oliver Peacock, Jillian Losh, Matthew C Wong, Zuzana Lutter-Berkova, George J Chang, Andrew Futreal, Jennifer A Wargo, Nadim J Ajami, Scott Kopetz, Y Nancy You

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: External exposures, the host, and the microbiome interact in oncology. We aimed to investigate tumoral microbiomes in young-onset rectal cancers (YORCs) for profiles potentially correlative with disease etiology and biology.

BACKGROUND: YORC is rapidly increasing, with 1 in 4 new rectal cancer cases occurring under the age of 50 years. Its etiology is unknown.

METHODS: YORC (old) or later-onset rectal cancer (LORC, ≥50 y old) patients underwent pretreatment biopsied of tumor and tumor-adjacent normal (TAN) tissue. After whole genome sequencing, metagenomic analysis quantified microbial communities comparing tumors versus TANs and YORCs versus LORCs, controlling for multiple testing. Response to …

Peripheral Levels Of The Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor In Coronary Artery Disease: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Parnian Shobeiri, Amir Hossein Behnoush, Amirmohammad Khalaji, Antonio Lucio Teixeira, Nima Rezaei

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Among its functions, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) regulates endothelial and macrophage activation, possibly playing a role in atherosclerotic plaque pathophysiology. Given contradicting reports, this study sought to investigate whether blood levels of BDNF differed between patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and controls.

METHODS: We explored PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library for studies comparing BDNF blood levels in patients with CHD and controls. Random-effect meta-analysis was conducted to calculate the standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to evaluate the quality of included articles, and statistical analyses were conducted …